5 Burgers To Try on the Westside

The foodie scene on the Westside is b l o w i n g U P and over the past few weeks I’ve made a point to check out a number of local spots (some new, some new-ish) I’d not yet had the pleasure of dining with. The goal was to order the best of what each destination had to offer, per usual, but it was just a mere happenstance that a good portion (if not all) of the westside restaurants I’d visited truly excelled in the art of burger making. It’s my belief that if you can master a burger, you can master just about anything in your kitchen – I know, I realize my standards for culinary excellence are a bit high but I stand by my markers. Out of the 10+ westside restaurants whom I’ve recently dined with, these are 5 spots cranking out some excellent and well crafted burgers. I’m well aware that there are perhaps other delicious “west of the 405” burgers missing on this list, but cut a girl some slack – I’m a one-woman machine who still wants to be able to button her jeans. SO, allow me to present you with 5 burgers to consider getting your hands on whilst you are west:

Pro Tip: Make sure you walk through the back of the restaurant to check out the most adorable little culinary focused shop, the Tripli-Kit. You can peruse an assortment of locally made goods and cool kitchen essentials as well as thumb through a variety of wonderful cookbooks.

What Else to Order: the Octopus Greek Salad + the California Blueberry Panna Cotta Short Bread Crumble. No joke, that panna cotta was one of the best desserts I’ve had in a while so don’t leave without it!

Pro Tip: Hinterland is now open for lunch Monday – Friday and you can order this damn fine burger during both their lunch and brunch service. Also, after a little investigating it was brought to my attention that Joe Jonas is only one investor in the restaurant, not sole like many of us may have confused.

What Else to Order: their famed Ahi Tacos (seriously the best ahi appetizer situation on the planet) + the butterscotch pudding for dessert. So light and heavenly.

Pro Tip: If you go to Del Frisco’s for lunch you can now “grab a pair” for just $13 and includes a combination of a personalized flatbread, half sandwich or two fish tacos and a side salad or soup. Who doesn’t love a good lunch deal.

What Else to Order: the Truffle Fries, a beer, + a salted caramel shake with Oreo mixed in! This particular milkshake concoction isn’t exactly on the menu, but they can make it!

Pro Tip: The way the line works is something you’ll just have to accept and deal with. People in Austin wait HOURS to have Hopdoddy, so we Californians can hardly complain! But if you’d prefer not to wait, do the obvious thing and go at an off time.

What Else to Order: the Sweet Potato Waffle Fries + their famous Cruller Donuts – aka one of my favorite desserts in all of Los Angeles.

Pro Tip: Plan Check has a great Happy Hour from 4 – 7 M – F where they offer $2 off draft beers, 2 $6 cocktails, $4 glasses of house wine (red or white), $2 off well spirits, as well as a few select small bites.